Tree Notice Issues

Adrienne from Hope

This week I received a notice from Network Tasman telling me to have a roadside tree trimmed because it has stretched itself close to the powerlines. A complete and reasonable request which I had meant to do in winter but couldn't get my expert arborist to do it. Problem is, thanks to government legislation under Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003 I am now required to notify Network Tasman 3 days prior to the work being done but, horrifyingly, I can't use my own arborist, I am only allowed to use an arborist certified by Network Tasman. I look for a list of arborists permitted but what do I see - there is only one - Treescape. I immediately smell a rat. If there is only one certified company in this region then I can be charged whatever they want to. There is no guarantee that they will prune the tree to a standard I wish for either. I then began looking throughout NZ to find out what the situation is elsewhere and what do I spy - Treescape's name coming up everywhere. In many other places they are also the only option. Next stop - the Commerce Commission because this is appalling. This is anti-competitive and stinks of cronyism. If I do not use Treescape (who incidentally operate via a call centre and have not got in touch with me in the 4 days since I phoned and they took my details), I can be fined by the Govt up to $10,000. Has anyone else experienced this issue and have the same concerns? I am feeling a bit like NZ is morphing into something akin to the old Soviet Union.